Spring fastener having multifunctional barbs originating at the lower side of the head

ABSTRACT

A Spring fastener with critical configuration of the barbs, which allow the extraction of the fastener without destruction of the slot and/or the fastener. This critical configuration of the barbs allows spring fasteners to be used in slots of various widths and prevents rattling, which would take place in the case of spring fasteners of the present state of the art. The critical configuration is based on the special dimensions and special shape of the barbs with regard to the parts and the slots involved in assemblies of the spring fasteners and the parts. Assemblies of miscellaneous parts connected together by means of such spring fasteners, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies may be made.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No 10/209,765filed on Aug. 1, 2002 which claims priority to provisional patentapplication 60/368,976, filed on Jun. 14, 2002, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains fasteners, and more particularly fasteners whichhave expandable legs and which attach one object to another object. Italso pertains combinations of one or more objects with said fastener(s),assemblies of fasteners with a part, parts or objects connected with thefastener(s), as well as vehicles comprising parts connected with saidfastener(s).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the original conventional technology of fasteners employed tosecurely attach one object to another, such as for example one part toanother in the case of an automobile or an appliance, has utilized a nuton one of the two objects, usually welded or glued to the back of saidobject, and a bolt passing through a hole on the second object in amanner to be engaged by the nut, thereby securing the two objectstogether.

This arrangement presents many problems, among which, one of the mostimportant is that in the case that one object is hollow, the nut has tobe in place at the back of the hollow object before assembling the twoobjects together. If for any reason the nut is misplaced, and/or if itbecomes desirable to introduce a new fastening connection between thetwo objects, the task of achieving such connection becomes verydifficult, if not impossible, for all practical purposes.

The so-called “quick nuts” have also been used to connect two objects.In addition, vibration during the operation of a device, such as anautomobile or appliance for example, containing the two objects resultsvery often in loosening of the bolt or “quick nut” and in either fulldisassembling of the objects from each other, or in a vibration noisewhich is most annoying and often of unacceptable levels. Further, suchconnections are not water-resistant and water may be easily penetratethe connection point and be transferred from one side of one or bothobjects to the other side.

Fasteners of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,238 (Vassiliou)have been utilized to reduce considerably the potential of bolt or screwloosening and vibration. They have also eliminated the problem of havingto place one member of the fastener at the back portion of the hollowobject. These fasteners are placed through a slot from the front part ofthe hollow object. The second part of the fastener, being usually a boltor a screw, supports the second object by forcing the legs of thefastener (as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,238) to openor expand, thereby securing the two objects together. The fasteners ofthis type have greatly improved the prevailing torque (torque requiredto render a screw loose), as well as the pulling force (pulling forceapplied on a screw to the point of failure) of the system.

The fasteners of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,238 have afunnel portion into which an expanding is driven for expanding the legsof the fastener. This funnel has a bucket-like shape which has beenimpressed on the legs during the manufacture of the fastener. Thisimpression derived funnel is rather inflexible and in some occasions hasa tendency to drive the expanding member in undesired direction.

An example of fasteners having oblong funnels is described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,280,129 B1 (Lowry et al.), which is incorporated herein byreference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,443 B1, which is also incorporated hereinby reference, discloses a spring fastener having a Y-shaped cut funnel,and which may eliminate, if so desired, barbs which are used to supportthe fastener in one of the parts to be connected together by saidfastener.

The fasteners of the type used in industrial applications, wherein thefastener is first inserted into the slot of a sheet, usually a metalsheet, such as the frame of an automobile for example, have barbs whichsecure initially the fastener on the sheet. After the fastener has beensecured on the sheet, the fastener cannot be extracted from the slotwithout destruction of either the slot or the fastener, since the barbsare disposed against the lower surface of the sheet without thefeasibility of springing back when the fastener is pulled from theregion of the upper surface of said sheet.

A large number of advantages are derived from the critical configurationof the barbs of the present invention, which allow the extraction of thefastener without destruction of the slot and/or the fastener, as well asthe retention of the fastener in slots of various widths preventingrattling noises, as described in detail hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the text presented below, the following comments and definitions areappropriate:

The expanding member is preferably a screw having threads and a root onwhich the threads are supported.

Engageable hole or region is an at least partial hole or region whichcan be engaged with a screw, or similar element.

At least partial hole may be a part of a hole, such as an arc forexample. However, the hole does not have to be round.

Curved portion is defined as a portion having a non-linearconfiguration, even if it comprises smaller non-aligned linear sections,such as saw tooth for example.

This invention is related to a fastener comprising:

-   -   (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole,        the flat head comprising at least a lower side;    -   (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the        neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat        head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the        substantially flat head portion;    -   (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each        leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two        legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs        being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through        the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing the expansion        member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also having        side leg portions;    -   (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of the contact        region; and    -   (e) barbs having an origin at a region selected from the side        neck portion, and the side leg portion, the barbs also having a        front point which front point substantially reaches or exceeds        the lower side, the barbs directed outwardly away from the legs.

This invention also pertains an assembly comprising a first part and afastener,

-   -   the first part having an upper surface and a lower surface, a        slot commensurate to the fastener, the slot having a length, a        width, lower edges, upper edges, and side edges, along its        length;    -   (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole,        the flat head comprising at least a lower side;    -   (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the        neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat        head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the        substantially flat head portion;    -   (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each        leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two        legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs        being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through        the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing the expansion        member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also having        side leg portions;    -   (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of the contact        region; and    -   (e) barbs having an origin at a region selected from the side        neck portion, and the side leg portion, the barbs directed        outwardly away from the legs, the barbs also having a front        point which front point is substantially disposed above the        lower surface of the first part and above the lower edges of the        slot.

Further, this invention is related to a fastener comprising:

-   -   (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole,        the flat head comprising at least a lower side;    -   (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the        neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat        head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the        substantially flat head portion;    -   (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each        leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two        legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs        being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through        the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing the expansion        member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also having        side leg portions;    -   (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of the contact        region; and    -   (e) barbs having a front point and an origin at a region        selected from the lower head side, the side neck portion, and        the side leg portion, the barbs being directed outwardly away        from the legs and then inwardly toward the legs.

This invention also pertains an assembly comprising a first part and afastener,

-   -   the first part having an upper surface and a lower surface, a        slot commensurate to the fastener, the slot having a length, a        width, lower edges, upper edges and side edges, along its        length;    -   the fastener being inserted into the slot and comprising:    -   (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole,        the flat head comprising at least a lower side;    -   (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the        neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat        head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the        substantially flat head portion;    -   (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each        leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two        legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs        being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through        the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing the expansion        member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also having        side leg portions;    -   (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of the contact        region; and    -   (e) barbs having a front point and an origin at a region        selected from the lower side of the head portion, the side neck        portion, and the side leg portion, the barbs being directed        outwardly away from the legs and then inwardly toward the legs,        the barbs also having sliding portions in contact with at least        one of the lower, upper, and side edges of the slot.

The present invention is also related to a fastener comprising:

-   -   (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole,        the flat head comprising at least a lower side;    -   (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the        neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat        head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the        substantially flat head portion;    -   (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each        leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two        legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs        being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through        the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing the expansion        member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also having        side leg portions;    -   (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of the contact        region;    -   (e) at least one high barb having an origin at a region selected        from the side neck portion, and the side leg portion, the at        least one high barb also having a front point which front point        substantially reaches or exceeds the lower side, the at least        one high barb directed outwardly away from the legs; and    -   f) at least one low barb having an origin at a region selected        from the side neck portion, and the side leg portion, the at        least one low barb also having a front point which front point        reaches lower than the lower side, the at least one low barb        directed outwardly away from the legs.

The head portion of the fastener may comprise an upper side and a lowerside, or it may have a single side corresponding to the lower side, asdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,864 B1, which isincorporated herein by reference.

The hole may be substantially round or it may be in the form of anoblong opening, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,270,129 B1and 6,409,443 B1, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The fastener may further comprise an elastic body molded at least underthe at least lower side of the head of the fastener, as described forexample in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,725,343 and 6,379,092, both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The first hole is preferably engageable to the expansion member.

The fastener may comprise at least one region under the at least lowerside, which region is engageable to the expansion member, as describedfor example in non-provisional application 09/699,760, which isincorporated herein by reference.

In the case that the head of the fastener has an upper side and a lowerside, at least one region under the upper side of the head, may beengageable to the expansion member.

The outwardly and inwardly portions of the barbs should preferably havean angle which is adequately large to allow the fastener to be removedfrom the first part without destruction of said fastener or said firstpart, when the removal takes place solely from the side of the firstpart, wherein the head of the fastener is positioned.

The present invention further pertains parts connected with the abovedescribed spring fasteners and/or combinations, as well as vehiclescomprising parts connected with the above described spring fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The reader's understanding of this invention will be enhanced byreference to the following detailed description taken in combinationwith the drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of fastener and a first part according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the front pointsof the barbs reach or exceed the lower side of the head of the fastener.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of fastener having conventional barbs, anda first part having a slot.

FIG. 2 is a cross section illustrating the barbs with relation to thefirst part of FIG. 1, after the fastener has been inserted into a slotof the first part, wherein the front points of the barbs substantiallyreach the lower side of the head of the fastener.

FIG. 2A is a cross section illustrating the barbs with relation to thefirst part of FIG. 1A, after the fastener has been inserted into a slotof the first part, wherein the front points of the barbs are engaged tothe lower surface of the first part.

FIG. 3 is a cross section according to another preferred embodiment ofthe present invention illustrating the barbs in relation to the firstpart, in the case of an assembly of a fastener and the first part,wherein the distance of the front points of the barbs from the lowerside of the head of the fastener is smaller than the thickness of thefirst part.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a combination of a second part attached tothe assembly of the fastener and the first part by an expansion member,after said fastener has been inserted to a slot of said first part.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fastener and a first part according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the barbsare initially directed outwardly and then inwardly.

FIG. 6 is a cross section illustrating the barbs with relation to thefirst part of FIG. 5, after the fastener has been inserted into a slotof the first part, wherein inwardly directed portions of the barbs areengaged to the lower edges of the slot of the first part.

FIG. 7 is a cross section illustrating an example of the barbs withrelation to the first part of FIG. 5, after the legs of the fastenerhave been expanded by an expansion member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of fastener and a first part havingidentical barbs as the barbs of FIG. 5, but wherein the fastenercomprises an oblong hole and an oblong funnel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of fastener and a first part according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the barbsoriginate from the lower side of the head of the fastener, are initiallyoutwardly directed, and then inwardly directed.

FIG. 10 is a cross section illustrating the barbs with relation to thefirst part of FIG. 9, after the fastener has been inserted into a slotof the first part, wherein outwardly directed portions of the barbs areengaged to the lower edges of the slot of the first part.

FIG. 11 is a cross section illustrating the barbs with relation to thefirst part of FIG. 9, after the fastener has been inserted into a slotof the first part, wherein outwardly directed portions of the barbs areengaged to the upper edges of the slot of the first part, provided thatthe slot has appropriate partial conical shape to allow this type ofengagement.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fastener according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of a fastener according toanother embodiment of the instant invention, wherein the fastenercomprises an elastic body molded at least under the lower side of thehead of the fastener of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fasteners of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,238 areintended for use mainly in hollow walls. Fasteners of the same type,which are used in industrial applications, wherein the fastener is firstinserted into the slot of a sheet, usually a metal sheet, such as theframe of an automobile for example, have barbs which secure initiallythe fastener on the sheet. After the fastener has been secured on thesheet, the fastener cannot be extracted from the slot withoutdestruction of either the slot or the fastener, since the barbs aredisposed against the lower surface of the sheet without the feasibilityof springing back when the fastener is pulled from the region of theupper surface of said sheet.

The fasteners of the present invention pertain the criticalconfiguration of the barbs, which allow the extraction of the fastenerwithout destruction of the slot and/or the fastener, as described indetail hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 there is depicted a fastener 10,which comprises a substantially flat head portion 12 having a hole 11.The hole 11 may be substantially round, oblong, or have any otherdesirable shape.

In this particular illustration, the flat portion 12 comprises an upperside 14 and a lower side 16. However, in other instances, the flat head12 my comprise only a lower side (single side), as described for examplein U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,864 B1, which is incorporated herein byreference.

The fastener 10, further comprises a neck 18 which has an opening 20 andtwo side neck portions 22. The neck 18 extends from the lower side 16 ofthe substantially flat head portion 12 at a substantially right anglewith respect to the substantially flat head portion 12.

The fastener 10, also comprises two substantially flat legs extendingfrom the neck 18. Each leg 24 has an inner surface 26 (see FIG. 4). Thetwo inner surfaces 26 of the two legs 24 are at an initial proximitywith each other, as shown in FIG. 1, but the legs expand in oppositedirections upon inserting through the first hole 11 an expansion member28, and bringing said expansion member 28 to a contact region 30 of thelegs 24. Each leg also has side leg portions 32.

Examples of expansion members are screws, bolts, nails, etc. The hole 11is preferably but not necessarily engageable to the expansion member 28.

Engagement, if desired, may be achieved in one or more of themiscellaneous regions of the fastener as disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/699,760, for example, which patent applicationis incorporated herein by reference.

The fastener 10, further comprises a funnel configuration 34 in thevicinity of the contact region. The funnel 34 may be conical-like asshown in FIG. 1, or have other shapes, such as for example the funnelsdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,129 B1, and the funnel shown in FIG. 8.

In addition, the fastener comprises barbs 36. The barbs 36 are directedoutwardly away from the legs, and have an origin 38. The origin 38 maypreferably be either on the side neck portion 22, or the side legportion 32. The barbs also have front point 40, which front point 40substantially reaches or exceeds (goes over) the lower side 16, asbetter illustrated in FIG. 1.

In operation, the fastener 10 is inserted into a slot 42 of a first part44, such as a metal sheet for example. The slot 42 has a length L, awidth W, an upper edge 46, a side edge 48, and a lower edge 50.

The metal sheet has a thickness T, an upper surface 52, and a lowersurface 54. No matter what the value of the thickness T is, the barbs 36push against at least one of the edges of the slot 42, thus holding thefastener in the slot 42. The fastener can also be easily pulled awayfrom the slot, since the barbs 36 will slide right out when the fastener10 is pulled from the side of the head 12 of said fastener 10. Since thebarbs 36 reach or exceed the lower side 16, there is no way that theycan move under the first part 44, and permanently engage on the lowersurface 54 of said first part 44, such as a metal sheet for example.

After the fastener 10 has been inserted into the slot 42 of the firstpart 44, a second part 56, having a hole 58 is positioned on top of thefastener 10, and the hole 58 is aligned with the hole 11 of the head 12of the fastener 10. In sequence, the expansion member 28, such a screwfor example in inserted and initially engaged on the hole 11, and thenproceeds to the contact region there by causing the legs 24 to expandand firmly secure the first part 44 on the second part 56 through thefastener 10, as better shown in FIG. 4.

When it becomes desirable, all parts can be readily disassembled,including the easy separation of the fastener 10 from the first part 44,thanks to the special configuration of the barbs 36 with respect toother elements of the fastener 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates barbs 36, the front points 40 of which substantiallyreach the lower side 16 (not shown) of the head 12, thus reachingsubstantially the level of the upper surface 52 of the first part 44.This is because the upper surface 44 is substantially in contact withthe lower side 16 of the head 12, during operation, as better shown inFIG. 4.

In contrast, the prior art barbs 36A, better shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A,are designed to be disposed under the first part 44A, after the fastener10A has been inserted into the slot 42A, and permanently engage on thelower surface 54A. Thus, after the fastener 10A has been inserted intothe slot 42A, it cannot be removed without damage to either the fastener10A or to the part 44A.

FIG. 1A illustrates such a fastener 10A of the prior art, comprising ahead 12A having an upper side 14A and a lower side 16A. The upper side14A has a hole 11A. The fastener 10A comprises also a funnel 34A. Thementioned above, length of the barbs has to be such that when thefastener 10A is inserted into the slot 42A, the barbs 36A have to beunder the lower surface 54A of the first part 44A, which has a thicknessT_(A).

A different embodiment of the present invention, is concerned with anassembly of a fastener 10 and a first part 44, wherein the fastener isdisposed into a slot 42 of said first part 44. The fastener 10 and thefirst part are similar to the respective fastener 10 and first part 44described in the previous embodiment, with the difference that the frontpoint 40 of the barbs 36 of this embodiment is at a distance T1 from thelower side 16 (not shown) of the fastener 10 smaller than the thicknessT of the first part. In such a case, as better illustrated in FIG. 3,the front points 40 of the barbs 36 remain necessarily within the slot42, pushing against the side edges 48 of the slot 42 in a manner to holdthe fastener 10 within the slot 42. In different words, in this case,the barbs 36 are also directed outwardly away from the legs 24, and aresubstantially disposed above the lower surface 54 of the first part 44and above the lower edges 54 of the slot 42. Therefore, upondisassembling the assembly, the fastener 10 may be easily removed fromthe slot.

The operation of this embodiment is for all practical purposes identicalto the operation of the previous embodiment of the present invention.

In still a different embodiment, better illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,the barbs 36 have an origin 38 at the side neck portion 22 or the sideleg portion 32. The barbs 36 are initially directed outwardly away fromthe legs 24, and then inwardly toward the legs 24 and the neck 18.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to the operation of theprevious embodiments with the difference that when the fastener 10 isbeing inserted into the slot 42, the outwardly directed portions of thebarb 36 are initially squeezed, and finally the inwardly directedportions of the barbs 36 find themselves pushing against the lower edges50 of the slot 42, thus engaging the fastener 10 on the first part 44through the slot 42.

When the second part 56 (see FIG. 4) is secured on the fastener 10 andthe first part 44, as already described in the earlier embodiments, thebarbs 36 are tilted and assume a position as illustrated in FIG. 7, andfurther support the attachment of the second object onto the firstobject. Of course the degree of tilting, may vary, and what is shown inFIG. 7 is just an example.

The angle A (FIG. 6) is preferably larger than 90 degrees. In any event,it should preferably be such that the fastener can be removed from thefirst object without destruction of said fastener, when the removaltakes place solely from the side of the first object, wherein the headof the fastener is positioned.

When it is desired to disassemble the miscellaneous components, theexpanding member 28 is removed, which frees the second part 56 from theassembly of the fastener 10 with the first part 44. The legs, assumetheir initial non-expanded position, and the barbs 36 resume theun-tilted position illustrated in FIG. 6. By pulling the fastener 10away from the first part 44 (from the side of the upper surface 52) thebarbs 36 slide initially on the lower edges 50 toward each other, thenover the side edges 48, and finally liberate the fastener 10 from theslot 42 and the first part 44, without any damage to the fastener and/orthe first part 44.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the same type of barbs 36 as the onesdescribed in the above embodiment, on a fastener 10, the head 12 ofwhich fastener 10 has an oblong hole 11, and an oblong Y-shaped funnel34.

In still another embodiment of this invention, better illustrated inFIGS. 9, 10, and 11, the origin 38 of the barbs 36 is disposed at thelower side 16 of the fastener 10. Again, the barbs are initiallydirected outwardly away from the legs 24 and the neck 18, and theninwardly toward the legs 24 and the neck 18.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to the operation of theprevious embodiment with the difference that when the fastener 10 isbeing inserted into the slot 42, the inwardly directed portions of thebarb 36 are initially squeezed, and finally the outwardly directedportions of the barbs 36 find themselves pushing against the lower edges50 of the slot 42, thus engaging the fastener 10 on the first part 44through the slot 42, as better illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates a case that the slot 42 has a partial conical shape,in which case the barbs 36 may be pushed against the upper edges 46 ofthe slot 42. As a matter of fact, the conical shape may be such that thebarbs 36 are pushed (not shown) against all three edges 46, 48, and 50.

In another embodiment of this invention, better shown in FIG. 12, thefastener 10 has a front leg 24 a and a back leg 24 b. The front leg 24comprises a first front barb 36 a and a second front barb 36 a′. Theback leg 24 b comprises a first back barb 36 b opposite the respectivefront first barb 36 a, and a second back barb 36 b′ opposite therespective front barb 36 a′. The characteristics of the particular barbsand their functionality have already been described hereinabove, andthey do not need any further clarification.

It is highly preferable that the barbs 36 a an 36 b′ have thecharacteristics of barbs 36A illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A, while thebarbs 36 a′ and 36 b have the characteristics of the barbs illustratedin FIGS. 1, and/or 2, or 3. However, this invention includes the casethat at least one of the barbs has the characteristics of 36Aillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A, while the rest of the barbs have thecharacteristics of the barbs illustrated in FIGS. 1, and/or 2, or 3.

The barbs which have the characteristics of the barbs illustrated inFIGS. 1, and/or 2, or 3 are collectively named high barbs, while thebarbs which have the characteristics of barbs 36A illustrated in FIGS.1A and 2A are collectively named low barbs.

In operation of this embodiment, the fastener 10 of FIG. 10 is insertedinto the slot 42 of the first part 44, such as metal sheet for example,illustrated in FIG. 1. The barb(s) having the characteristics of thebarbs illustrated in FIGS. 1, and/or 2, or 3 (high barbs) preventrattling of the fastener in the slot 42 for various widths W (seeFIG. 1) of the slot 42 and/or various thicknesses of the first part 44,while the barb(s) having the characteristics of barbs 36A illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 2A (low barbs) secure the fastener 10, and prevent it fromfalling off the slot 24 of the part 44.

As aforementioned, the head of the fastener may have an upper side and alower side or it may have a single side corresponding to the lower side.Examples of fasteners having single sided heads are described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,250,864 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

When water-proofing, and/or gas-proofing are desired for a particularapplication, and/or vibration noises are to be prevented, an elasticbody 7 is preferably integrally molded at least at the lower side 16 ofthe substantially flat head portion 12 of the fastener 10, as betterillustrated in FIG. 13. Such elastic bodies are for example disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,725,343 (Smith), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,092 (Patel etal.) both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As also aforementioned, the fastener may comprise at least one regionunder the at least lower side, which region is engageable to theexpansion member, as described for example in non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 09/699,760, which is incorporated herein byreference.

It should be noted that the barbs 36 may be disposed as a mirror imageagainst each other as shown in the Figures, but they may also bepositioned sideways so that one barb can cross its respective barb, thusforming inner and outer barbs, as disclosed in non-provisional patentapplication 10/164,963, filed Jun. 7, 2002, which is incorporated hereinby reference. Their width may be uniform along their length ornon-uniform, as also disclosed in the same application 10/164,963.

This invention pertains fasteners alone, assemblies of fasteners with afirst part, assemblies of fasteners with a first part wherein a secondpart has been attached to said assemblies, and vehicles comprising anyof the above.

Indiscriminately, each of the first and the second parts may be forexample a plastic panel or a metal sheet or a handle, or a differenttype of an object.

It is evident that the embodiments of the above applications may have tobe adjusted to fit the requirements of the instant invention.

The embodiments described hereinabove serve illustration purposes onlyregarding this invention, which should only be bound by the claims.

Any explanations given are speculative and should not restrict the scopeof the claims.

A large number of advantages are derived from the critical configurationof the barbs of the present invention, which allow the extraction of thefastener without destruction of the slot and/or the fastener, as well asthe retention of the fastener in slots of various widths preventingrattling noises, as described in detail hereinabove.

1. A spring fastener comprising: (a) a substantially flat head portioncomprising a first hole, the flat head comprising at least a lower side;(b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the neckextending from the lower side of the substantially flat head portion ata substantially right angle with respect to the substantially flat headportion; (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, eachleg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two legsbeing at an initial proximity with each other, the legs being expandablein opposite directions upon inserting through the first hole anexpansion member, thus bringing the expansion member to a contact regionof the legs, each leg also having side leg portions; (d) a funnelconfiguration in the vicinity of the contact region; and (e) barbshaving a front point and an origin at the lower head side, the barbsbeing directed outwardly away from the legs and then inwardly toward thelegs.
 2. A spring fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the headportion of the fastener comprises an upper side and a lower side.
 3. Aspring fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the head portion of thefastener has a single side corresponding to the lower side.
 4. A springfastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the hole is substantially round.5. A spring fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the hole comprisesan oblong opening.
 6. A spring fastener as defined in claim 1, whereinthe fastener comprises an elastic body molded at least under the atleast lower side of the head of the fastener.
 7. A spring fastener asdefined in claim 4, wherein the fastener comprises an elastic bodymolded at least under the at least lower side of the head of thefastener.
 8. A spring fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the firsthole is engageable to the expansion member.
 9. A spring fastener asdefined in claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises at least one regionunder the at least lower side, which region is engageable to theexpansion member.
 10. A spring fastener as defined in claim 2, whereinthe fastener comprises at least one region under the at upper side ofthe head, which region is engageable to the expansion member.
 11. Aspring fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the outwardly andinwardly portions of the barbs have an angle, which angle is adequatelylarge to allow the fastener to be removed from the first part withoutdestruction of said fastener or said first part, when the removal takesplace solely from the side of the first part, wherein the head of thefastener is positioned.
 12. An assembly comprising a first part and afastener, the first part having an upper surface and a lower surface, aslot commensurate to the fastener, the slot having a length, a width,lower edges, upper edges and side edges, along its length; the fastenerbeing inserted into the slot and comprising: (a) a substantially flathead portion comprising a first hole, the flat head comprising at leasta lower side; (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions,the neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat headportion at a substantially right angle with respect to the substantiallyflat head portion; (c) two substantially flat legs extending from theneck, each leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of thetwo legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs beingexpandable in opposite directions upon inserting through the first holean expansion member, thus bringing the expansion member to a contactregion of the legs, each leg also having side leg portions; (d) a funnelconfiguration in the vicinity of the contact region; and (e) barbshaving a front point and an origin at the lower side of the headportion, the barbs being directed outwardly away from the legs and theninwardly toward the legs.
 13. An assembly as defined in claim 12,wherein the head portion of the fastener comprises an upper side.
 14. Anassembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the head portion of thefastener has a single side corresponding to the lower side.
 15. Anassembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the hole is substantiallyround.
 16. An assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the holecomprises an oblong opening.
 17. An assembly as defined in claim 12,wherein the fastener comprises an elastic body molded at least under theat least lower side of the head of the fastener.
 18. An assembly asdefined in claim 15, wherein the fastener comprises an elastic bodymolded at least under the at least lower side of the head of thefastener.
 19. An assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the first holeis engageable to the expansion member.
 20. An assembly as defined inclaim 12, wherein the fastener comprises at least one region under theat least lower side, which region is engageable to the expansion member.21. An assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the fastener comprisesat least one region under the at upper side of the head, which region isengageable to the expansion member.
 22. An assembly as defined in claim12, wherein the outwardly and inwardly portions of the barbs have anangle, which angle is adequately large to allow the fastener to beremoved from the first part without destruction of said fastener or saidfirst part, when the removal takes place solely from the side of thefirst part, wherein the head of the fastener is positioned.
 23. Avehicle comprising a first part having a slot and a second part having ahole, the two parts connected with a fastener, the fastener comprising:(a) a substantially flat head portion comprising a first hole, the flathead comprising at least a lower side; (b) a neck having an opening andtwo side neck portions, the neck extending from the lower side of thesubstantially flat head portion at a substantially right angle withrespect to the substantially flat head portion; (c) two substantiallyflat legs extending from the neck, each leg having an inner surface, thetwo inner surfaces of the two legs being at an initial proximity witheach other, the legs being expandable in opposite directions uponinserting through the first hole an expansion member, thus bringing theexpansion member to a contact region of the legs, each leg also havingside leg portions; (d) a funnel configuration in the vicinity of thecontact region; and (e) barbs having a front point and an origin at thelower head side, the barbs being directed outwardly away from the legsand then inwardly toward the legs.
 24. A vehicle comprising an assemblyof a first part with a slot, and a fastener within the slot, thefastener comprising: (a) a substantially flat head portion comprising afirst hole, the flat head comprising at least a lower side; (b) a neckhaving an opening and two side neck portions, the neck extending fromthe lower side of the substantially flat head portion at a substantiallyright angle with respect to the substantially flat head portion; (c) twosubstantially flat legs extending from the neck, each leg having aninner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two legs being at aninitial proximity with each other, the legs being expandable in oppositedirections upon inserting through the first hole an expansion member,thus bringing the expansion member to a contact region of the legs, eachleg also having side leg portions; (d) a funnel configuration in thevicinity of the contact region; and (e) barbs having a front point andan origin at the lower head side, the barbs being directed outwardlyaway from the legs and then inwardly toward the legs.